December is a wonderful time of the year. As families decorate their homes for Christmas and the holidays, poinsettias are a popular addition to the decor. Pink poinsettias have always been a favorite in our home. Incidentally, December 12 was officially declared “National Poinsettia Day” by an Act of Congress in 2002. For me it’s … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season→

Every year the National Garden Bureau, the non-profit organization whose mission is to disseminate basic information and instructions for backyard gardeners, selects one annual, one perennial, one edible and one bulb to be featured in their “Year of the …” program. Plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile. … Continue reading Year of the Dahlia for 2019→

Savoring Fall! (Or, Savoring the Fall!) It’s officially Fall and there’s much to savor. The days are shorter and cooler, and some tree leaves are beginning to come down. Especially outstanding are the Kousa dogwood berries. The seven-son tree (Heptacodium) is spectacular. Called autumn lilac by some, its sepal-like rose calyces elongate after blooming and … Continue reading Ripened Kousa Dogwood Berries→